Bentley, Sun hold off Sparks for 76-68 win

Updated: Jun 22, 2015, 02:16 am

LOS ANGELES -- Alex Bentley had a season-high 21 points, and Chelsea Gray scored all 11 of her points in the final 14:24 to help the Connecticut Sun beat the Los Angeles Sparks 76-68 on Sunday.

Kelsey Bone added 14 points and Camille Little 13 for Connecticut (6-1), which has won six straight and snapped a six-game skid, dating to Aug. 3, 2011, against the Sparks.

Los Angeles (0-4), which has been without Candace Parker, Kristi Toliver and Nneka Ogwumike all season -- and leading-scorer Alana Beard for the last two games -- is off to its worst start in franchise history.

Little converted a three-point play with 4:58 left in the third quarter, sparking an 8-0 run by the Sun which cut their deficit to 46-45.

A layup by Shekinna Strickland with 7:33 to play gave Connecticut its first lead, 56-54, since the opening minutes, before back-to-back layups by Bentley ignited a 10-2 run which gave the Sun a 66-59 lead with 3:38 left.

Marianna Tolo hit a short jumper with 2:15 remaining to pull Los Angeles within 68-66, but Connecticut made all eight free throws in the final 2:03 to seal it.

Jantel Lavender had 15 points and 10 rebounds while Temeka Johnson scored 15 with 10 assists for the Sparks.